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Ancient
Hula Type Name

Hula Wahi Pana (Dance for legendary or historic places)

Further
Detail

Hula Wahi Pana comprise a large class of dances that honor places of such emotional, spiritual, historical, or cultural significance that chants were composed for them. Only the composers of the chants could know the deepest meanings, as they would be reflections of their feelings and experiences.

Since the subjects of Wahi Pana compositions are extremely varied, their implementation through hula are as well. Coupled with the differences from one hula style and tradition to the next, Hula Wahi Pana can be exceptionally diverse. They can be done sitting or standing, with limited body movement or wide free movement; with or without the use of implements or instruments; with the dancers themselves chanting and/or playing an implement or being accompanied by the ho`opa`a. Beyond the particular hula tradition, what ultimately determines the manner in which a Hula Wahi Pana is performed are the specific place involved, why it is significant, the story being shared about it, and its importance in the composer's view.

Not all chants written about legendary or historic places are necessarily Hula Wahi Pana. While many are mele hula (chants that are danced), others can be just oli, i.e. chanted, unaccompanied by dancing.

General
Body Position:

Kü or Noho (Standing or Sitting)

Can
be for Game, Pastime, or Sport:

No

Implement
or Instrument:

No

Published
Research Sources

Hawaiian Dictionary (Puku`i/Elbert) - The definition of wahi pana is a "legendary place." There is no listing for "Hula Wahi Pana."

Unwritten Literature of Hawai`i (Emerson) - Hula Wahi Pana itself is not identified as an ancient hula type by Emerson. However, many Wahi Pana chants can be found throughout this book. They are not explicitly identified as such, but rather woven into the descriptions of other hula types.

Hula Pahu volume 1 (Kaeppler) - Hula Wahi Pana itself is not identified as an ancient hula type in this Volume, however, a number of Wahi Pana chants (mele pana) are contained in its pages. For direction to chants, see "Index of Chant Titles" at back of book.

Hula Pahu volume 2 (Tatar) - Hula Wahi Pana itself is not identified as an ancient hula type in this Volume, however, a number of Wahi Pana chants (mele pana) are contained in its pages. For direction to chants, see "Index of Chant Titles" at back of book.

Sacred Hula: The Historical Hula `Äla`apapa (Stillman) - Page 20 references two "Mele Pana," namely "He moku Ka`ula" and "`Ike I Ka Wai `Ula," and Appendix A notes available sound recordings of each. Page 27 defines "Mele Pana" as "songs about places" and notes that such chants are common for Hula `Ölapa.

Additional
Notes

Please see "Published Sources" section above for greater detail on where to find documented research on this Hula Type.

Please also consult the "Kupuna" section at bottom to read and hear what our elders have to share.